THE FAIR RENT BILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 19, 31 August 1888, Page 13

THE FAIR RENT BILL.

TO THE EDITOR N.Z. TABLET. 0 ... Sir '"~ Yoar correspondent" H.C.M'Cormack," in your issue of the 24th, writes on a subject \ery interesting to me, in common with many others, who purchased land some time ago at a price very much beyond its present value, thiß reduction being caused by the enormous shrinkage which has taken place during the last few years in the value cf farm produce. In my own part'cular case the result has been total ruination, although I am a thoroughly practical farmer, having spent all my life as such, and, during time passed in New Zealand, having succeeded m accumulating a considerable capital. lam now workiDg as a labourer for what wageß I can get, instead of, as in the past, b«ing an employer of labour. But my case is of no particular interest to the public, except that it explains hundreds of similar ones, and there are hundreds more to follow, unless such a measure as the Fair Kent and Price of Land Bill becomes law. Your correspondent goes for the Star newspaper with his boots on, but why he hurls the whole of bis wrath at this worthless luminary I don't understand. The limet and Witness have been as bad— in fact worse. The Witness pretends to be published in the interest of our country settlers, but in tbis matter it has violently opposed a measure of vital importance to them. 1 suppose, however, that the directors of these papers are at liberty to act in the interest of the absentee money leaders, whom they principally represent. I think, also, had Mr. M'Cormack given our Waste Lands Boards a bit of a rubbing down he would have deserved the thanks of the public. The members of these bodies, to whom a iibeial public have allowed fair pay for the time they are supposed to spend in its service, have, by their actions, crushed many unfortunate settlers when circumstances have given them the power to do so. v Allow me, Mr. Editor, to express to you my thanks for the action which you have taken in this matter of relief to settlers, but it is just what I expected, as you have alwayß shown youreelf willing to be the champion of the injured or the oppressed.— l am, etc., Scotchman.